Reverse Angle Parking, Cedars of Marin, Police Consolidation, Memorial Park 1 1/2 day closure

Reverse Angle Parking

The Town is experimenting with a new type of diagonal parking called reverse angle parking.  The experimental area is on the one-way portion of Greenfield Avenue, near the hub.  Instead of pulling into the parking spot, cars back into their spots by pulling past the open spot and then reversing into it. 

Some benefits of this parking are:

• Improved visibility and increased field of vision
• Decreased collisions
• Improved safety for children and cyclists.
• Improved loading and unloading
• Improved handicapped parking
• Increased space
• Traffic calming

We are trying the parking out on the one way portion of Greenfield, with an eye to exploring the possibility of doing it on the east end of Greenfield next summer.  Comments welcomed!

Cedars of Marin

On Friday, September 14, a group of us from the Town were treated to a tour of the Cedars of Marin facilities.  As you may know, the Cedars has residential and community day programs for adults with developmental disabilities in San Anselmo, San Rafael and Ross, as well as ten group homes.

Our first stop on the tour was the Victory Center, which is located on the Seminary campus in San Anselmo.  Upon entering we were treated to a beautiful display of colorful art pieces.  The classrooms were abuzz with enthusiastic clients tackling art projects in a variety of mediums. They weren’t so busy, however, that they didn’t want to stop and chat with each of us!

From the Victory Center, we toured the Cedars residence facility in Ross.  The residence has a warm and homey feel, with lovely oak wainscoting and comfy, inviting furniture.  48 people call the residence home! A quick peek at a couple of individual rooms proved Executive Director Chuck Greene’s point that the rooms are always neat as a pin without any urging. 

Next, we visited the San Rafael “Farm,” where clients do beautiful weaving work, work in the garden areas growing fruits and vegetables, and care for rabbits, alpacas and goats.  When we introduced ourselves to the large group doing weaving, Mayor Tom McInerney got quite an impressive “ooohhhh” from the group. 

The final stop on the tour was back on San Anselmo Avenue at “The Artist Within,” the Cedars of Marin shop right near Town Hall, where the clients’ incredible weaving work is on display and for sale, including placemats, table runners, napkins, tea towels, totes and bookmarks.  The artists get to share in the proceeds from the sale of their goods, which I hadn’t realized before. 

It was a lovely day, and truly made us all appreciate the complex fabric of our community and the heartfelt work that is ongoing at the Cedars.  For more information on Cedars of Marin, go to http://thecedarsofmarin.org/home1.aspx.

Memorial Park Closure

Memorial Park will be closed on Thursday, September 27 and in the morning on Friday, September 28, in order to replenish the wood chips.  We apologize for any inconvenience.

Police Consolidation Update

The Twin Cities Police Authority and the San Anselmo Police Department have been sharing services since 2010 when the Twin Cities Dispatch unit moved temporarily into the San Anselmo Police Department while the new Twin Cities facility was being built.

Many opportunities for sharing services came out of that initial step and have ultimately resulted in the two agencies sharing dispatch, administration, evidence storage, investigations, patrol services, supervision, and management.  This has allowed the two agencies to improve services, while reducing personnel and costs. 

By eliminating the duplication of services between the two agencies, Twin Cities Police Authority has reduced its sworn employees from 33 to 30, while the San Anselmo Police Department has reduced sworn personnel from 19 to 15, an overall reduction of 7 sworn employees, mostly from administration and supervision.  At the same time, units on patrol in the three communities have been increased. 

At the direction of the elected officials in San Anselmo, Corte Madera and Larkspur, through the Twin Cities Police Authority, staff members from all the agencies are working with a Sharing Services Subcommittee to explore consolidation of the two police departments.  

Twin Cities Police Authority Chair Carla Condon, Police Councilmember Len Rifkind and San Anselmo Mayor Tom McInerney serve on the subcommittee to review issues around consolidation and to make recommendations to the full group of elected officials.  The subcommittee is scheduled to meet three times in September, 2012 to review issues around consolidation, including labor agreements, benefits, police stations, insurance, maintenance, equipment, etc.  All meetings of the subcommittee are public and dates/times are posted on the public notice bulletin boards at all the agencies. 

Following the completion of the subcommittee’s work, public meetings will be held in all three communities to ensure the communities are well informed about the planned consolidation and have an opportunity to ask questions. 

All involved are optimistic that the consolidation of these two Police agencies can occur by December 31, 2012, with the ultimate goal of continuing to provide excellent police services to the residents and merchants of Corte Madera, Larkspur and San Anselmo, at a reduced cost. 

There will be an update on the progress of the subcommittee at the Tuesday, September 25, meeting of the Town Council, beginning at 7 p.m.

San Anselmo News, published weekly on Fridays, is available at the San Anselmo Town Hall, Library, on the Public Notice Bulletin Board. It is also available on the Town’s website, www.townofsananselmo.org, and by email subscription.